DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OPERATING WITHOUT A PERMANENT FULL-TIME POLICE CHIEF FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS NOW.. BUT TODAY ACTION NEWS HAS LEARNED THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE. ACTION NEWS REPORTER FELIX CORTEZ IS LIVE IN GREENFIELD WITH AN UPDATE, FELIX?# 30 PEOPLE APPLIED FOR THE JOB.. THAT LIST HAS BEEN NARROWED TO A DOZEN CANDIDATES .. AND ONE OF THEM COULD BE ON THE JOB IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. ever since chief joe grebmeier retired nearly two years ago under a cloud of controversy.. The city of greenfield has been operating without a permanent full-time police chief.. That's about to change, the city manager tells action news.. A new chief could be on board in two months.. 15:30 we want that chief of police to be someone that lives here someone that breaths here somebody that's part of the community :36 mayor john huerta says the new chief must be prepared to combat the gangs.. 14:27 I think the main focus is the youth violence and getting a handle on our youth and getting handle on gang violence :34 it's presence in the south county area :37 and continue providing assistance to the other local neighboring cities like the four cities for peace :42 the new chief will take over a small department of 13 officers and seargeants, a murder rate that is going down.. One murder last year compared to 4 the year before.. And new resources to carry out their duties.. Last year voters approved a one cent sales tax hike that could generate roughly 200 thousand dollars for public safety.. john pina 4:05 I just hope they pick out somebody who is qualified and that they will do a good job :09 Kristian nejia, greenfield 7:54 just uh organizational keeping stuff run smoothly and actually getting the job done :02 7:54 just uh organizational keeping stuff run smoothly and actually getting the job done :02 the hiring of a new chief will hopefully end more than 2 years of controversy in that post.. That began with internal audits under grebmeier's final days .. And most recently the sharing of soledad police chief eric sills which divided the community.. pena 5:51 if we got someone to come in here do the right thing I'm all for it I'm sure everybody else will feel the same way as long as everybody does their thing and put the past to the past and lets start new :03 THE CITY MANAGER RELEASED FEW DETAILS REGARDING THE CANDIDATES.. OTHER THAN TO SAY A FEW ARE LOCAL, INCLUDING THE BAY AREA.. EVEN ONE APPLICANT FROM NEW YORK.. THE FINAL HIRING DECISION WILL BE MADE BY THE CITY MANAGER.. ERIN.### ACCORDING TO THE CITY MANAGER THE JOB WILL PAY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 125 AND 140 THOUSAND DOLLARS.. AND THAT'S JUST THE BASE SALARY.### GILROY POLICE